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February 5, 2009

Latest faith-based executive order briefly mentions prisoner re-entry

As detailed in this CNN piece, President Barack Obama issued this executive order today to rename and rework the White House's faith-based office. I was heartened to see the order included this little shout-out (highlighted by me below) for faith-based re-entry programming in the "policy" section of the executive order:

Faith-based and other neighborhood organizations are vital to our Nation's ability to address the needs of low-income and other underserved persons and communities. The American people are key drivers of fundamental change in our country, and few institutions are closer to the people than our faith-based and other neighborhood organizations. It is critical that the Federal Government strengthen the ability of such organizations and other nonprofit providers in our neighborhoods to deliver services effectively in partnership with Federal, State, and local governments and with other private organizations, while preserving our fundamental constitutional commitments guaranteeing the equal protection of the laws and the free exercise of religion and forbidding the establishment of religion. The Federal Government can preserve these fundamental commitments while empowering faith-based and neighborhood organizations to deliver vital services in our communities, from providing mentors and tutors to school children to giving ex-offenders a second chance at work and a responsible life to ensuring that families are fed.

I hope that, in addition to recognizing the valuable role played by faith-based re-entry programming, the Obama Administration will also voice support for the faith-based prison movement.